The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-03-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Review Of the Quarters Les
sons, for Sunday, March 81.
From tho Chicago Standard. BY Rov. j. NJ.

From tho Chicago Standard. BY Rev. J. NJ.
Coon.
INTRODUCTORY.
In our study of the lessons for the present
quarter We cannot have failed to observe ~
taeir great importance from an historical
standpoint; CD their unexcelled richness in
practical suggestions Their great historical
value Is seen On in the fact that they cover so
vast a period of time, over two thousand
years-more than one-th rd of the time which
has elapsed since the appearance of man
upon the earth (9 In the fact that here
and here only we have reliable account
of first things, e. g., the creation OF matter,
the first activity in matter, the first man,
the first temptation, the first sin, the
first gospel, the first birth, the first altar, the
first death, the first covenant, the first judg
mont We meet here the most interesting, the
most important, and likewise the most difficult
questions that pertain to mankind, or even to
God Delitzsch says of Genesis land il is es-
peclally applicable 10 the chapters which we
have studled), that mo science, no art, II IL
would seek out the cradle of its origin, can
suffer this book to lie unnoticed; and It's ex-
positor, II he would be equal To MS task, must
keep step, not alone with linguistic, ethno-
eral, with pro 5resslve science in the world of
man and nature" 81 In the fact that these les
sous not only describe the most ancient events,
but are themselves a most ancient descrip
ton of the same With the exception of few
Egyptian papyrl, these records outrank in age
any that are now extant az The fact of their
intimae and organic relation with all that fol-
lows, bestows upon these events, which we
have been studying, marked historical value.
Without a knowledge of them as history, and
a N
h story of the whole Mosaic economy Will be
lmperfectly understood Much more might
be said Of their historical character but this
must suffice OF their value from practical
standpoint, it may be said that great mis-
take Is made by those who regard the book
Of Genes Tor tbs Old Testament, for some go
even 30 far, as barren IN this particular. If
we do not fnd In the lives of these old
patriarchs the richest experiences and
the most fruitful lessons of warning
ana enc ouragement then they are
nowhere else to be found. In lessons four aud
ten we have those terrible warnings against
sin; in lesson four and eight, on the other
hand, the tokens of Gods mercy and love.
DR. w. H. Harper IN the Standard.
LESSONS, TOPICS AND GOLDEN TEXTS
Lesson l. Jan. :. Gen /: 26-3l; 2: Is.
Topic: the beginning" Golden Text: an
the be ginning God created the heaven and the
earth" Gen /: ~
IL Jan. g. Gen. 3: l-6, 1913 "Sin and
~. l.
into the world, and death by sin" Rom. 81
49,
i'll Jan IT, Gen. 4: SIG. @Cain AMI
Abel" G. T.: sam l my brothers keeper"
" Jan. % Gen. g. 922. aNoah and the
Ark" g. T.: "Noah did according to all that
the Lord commanded him." Gen. z: 81
" Jan. 80 Gen IL: 10 "The Call of
Abram" G. T.: Il VIII bless thee, and make
thy name great, and thou shalt be blessing"
VI. Feb. 8, Gen. 10: l7l8. Lots Choice >
g. T.. Seek We first the kingdom of God, and
his righteousness. Matt g. 33.)
VII Feb IL. Gen, 10; BIS. Gods Cove
am thy shield, and thy exceeding great re-
w1 Viii F fSfn 20 %; g Gen IS: % 80 Abraham
Pleading for Sodom." G.. T.: "In wrath re-
member mercy" (Hah B: 2.)
TX Feb. %, Gen. 10: l5-25. Destruction
of sodom." q. T.. Escape for thy life. y
" March 6 Gen. -: a. abraham
Offering Isaac" G.. r.: Sod will provide
himself a lamb for burnt-offerng. Gen.
XL March l3 Gen IS: 10 p. Jacob at
Bethel" G.. T.: "Surely the Lord is in this
MI March9o. Gen. 80: 9-1a, "a 80. Jacobs
New Name G.. T.: @And he said, will not
let thee go, except thou bless me-" Gen
lin the primary and younger classes drill
upon these and the emphasizing of two or
three special truths will be all the teacher
should attempt
LEssoN-voICEs AND MESSAGES.
Test the class or school to give place and
circumstances of the following Scripture
sentiments: ~Replenish the earth and subdue
IT." "Ye shall not surrey de-" ~Am | my
brothers Keeper" snake thee an ark; sect
thee ont of thy country" Lot there be no
H.. Oil
Set not the Lord be angry" Escape for thy
this place." NO more Jacob, but Israel"
CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS
In the first twenty-five chapters of Genesis
we pass over nearly half OF the time which
elapsed between the creation of Adam and the
birth Of Christ IL it any wonder that the
record of events Is meagery How evident II
| il that the Bible is written for moral purposes
ONLY Mans sin and the steps which led TO
| II, and many of his acts of wickedness, are
| related with appalling muteness and the va
rious means used for his reclamation from
sin are dwelt upon at length.
We know little of the early history of the
| race. Before the flood men lived to great
| age, and hence increased in numbers rapidly.
| They appear to have made some attachments
| in music and metal working Gen. 4: 81 -,
but their instruments were probably very rude
| and simple. Only one mention Is made of Y
city until after the deluge. and tn { was built
| by Cain. When the earth was repeOpled by
| Noah's descendants, mans term of life became
| much shorter Abraham died at lis. We
| read of gold, silver ralment, tents, swords,
| knives, bows and arrows water-po brace
lets, ear-ring4 of digging wells and bu ! ing
| cites-but Of how these things are made and
| done, or to what extent, we know nothing.
OF mans attainments in sin the record il
sadly voluminous What an awful thing sin
| il, these lessons well illustrate. 1t is but one
step from the purity OF Eden to the guilt OF
| Cain, the flood comes to depopulate world
which has become filled with violence, and
| Solom's fiery doom marks the end of those
| who ~were wicked and sinners against Jehovah
| exceet ing y" Surely mans SIN has abounded
| in the eartO, and is il not the wonder of won
| ders that grace has much more abounded.
! from. 3: 30, n
And let us remember, as the pratical
| lesson for US ont of this inspired record OF
| Gods dealing with the ancient world, that
through the dea h and resurrection of Christ,
the ~seed of Abraham" salvation came unto
| the Gentes Chat is, tho nations other than
| Jews) and that in Him there ia mother Jew
| nor Greek, bond nor free, but whoever "foar-
| eth God and worketh righteousness is nc
cepted Of HIM" (Rom. IL: IL; / Cor. 10: 10
| Col. 3: IL; Acts 10: 3d. And now shall we not
| be eager 10 lay hold upon Gods strength, and
make our peace with Him? Qsa. "a 81 Shall
not His goodness lead Us TO repentance?-and
shall we not accept in all its fullness the great
4 ~ -